EDMONTON - There are no takers for estranged defenceman Sheldon Souray.

The big blueliner with the even bigger cap hit cleared waivers, even though the Oilers would have paid half of his contract, this year and next, to whoever plucked him off the wire.

So it’s back to Hershey in the American Hockey League until they make a decision on him in the summer — either buy him out, try to trade him (highly unlikely) or invite him to camp (even less likely).

“It’s a bit shocking to me, I think Sheldon is a good player,” said Oilers head coach Tom Renney.

“I think an awful lot of teams would need someone like that down the stretch. It’s a bit unusual to me.”

Souray’s former Edmonton teammates were hoping the soap opera would come to a close last weekend, but with another year left on a cap hit of $5.4 million US and a long history of injuries, it wasn’t to be.

“I’ve known Shelley for a long time ... he was a great teammate and a good person,” said Shawn Horcoff.

“I was hoping he’d get picked up and be able to move on. I’m sure it’s not the end for him, just a setback. I’m sure there will be something on the horizon for him somewhere else.”

“It’s tough for him, he has a lot of pride,” said Sam Gagner. “He wants to be in the NHL.”

With Souray technically on the Oilers roster, Taylor Chorney couldn’t practise with the club on Monday.

He was technically re-assigned, but will join the team in Minnesota once Souray clears the books today.